Method and apparatus for producing fibers



Sept. 21, 1965 M. E. FULK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERSFiled Feb. 24. 1961 IN V EN TOR.

MURRAY E. FULK A TTOPNEYS United States Patent 3,207,587 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS Murray E. Fulk, Newark, Ohio, assignor toOwens- Corning Fiherglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware FiledFeb. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 91,371 11 Claims. (Cl. 65-5) The presentinvention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing fibers fromheat-softenable materials and more especially to the production offibers by attenuation through the utilization of high velocity gaseousblasts.

Glass fibers have been produced extensively by attenuating streams ofglass by engaging the streams with high velocity gaseous blasts, thefibers being employed for mats, batts and the like. In such processesattenuation of the glass streams is attained by directing blasts ofsteam, compressed air or other gases under pressure from nozzles ororifices of a blower, the blasts of gas being directed at opposite sidesof one or more rows of streams. Fibers attenuated by such process havebeen used to form comparatively thin fibrous mat containing a suitablebinder which is cured to hold the fibers in integrated assembly, suchproduct being generally known as a bonded mat.

Recent improvements in the blower arrangement for producing fibersespecially employed in fabricating bonded mats have been made wherein adouble row of streams are flowed from a stream feeder or bushing andeach row of streams engaged by high velocity gaseous blasts wherein theregion of engagement of the blasts at the inner sides of the streams areabove the regions of engagement of the blasts at the outer sides of therows of streams, an arrangement which reduces turbulence through a moreeffective control of the blast induced air streams. While such methodimproves the efliciency of blast attenuation of fibers and provides ahigh production yield of fibers in proportion to the energy expended,certain difficulties have been encountered which impair the shape andcharacter of the fibers produced by this method. The pairs of blastswhich, through moving in generally parallel relation are slightlyconvergent and the gases from the elongated orifices or nozzles of thedual blower sections impinge one another at a region a short distancebelow the blower sections and are abruptly deflected in divergent paths.This sudden change of direction of the gases of the blasts occurs duringattenuation while the fibers or filaments are in a plastic state and arereadily deformable. As the fibers or filaments being attenuated by theblasts are entrained with the gases of the blasts, the abrupt change indirection of the gases deforms the fibers or filament forming kinkstherein. The presence of kinks in the fibers of a bonded mat formed fromthe fibers is undesirable as the strength of the fibers is impaired andthey detract from the appearance of the finished bonded mat.

The present invention embraces a method of controlling the direction offlow of gases of multiple blasts employed for attenuating a plurality ofrows of streams of fiberforming material whereby the gases of the blastsand the fibers being attenuated thereby are influenced to travel inrectilinear paths whereby the fibers formed by attenuation are ofrectilinear character and are devoid of kinks.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of controllingthe flow of gases of multiple attenuating blasts during attenuatingoperations on heat softenable mineral materials whereby the tendency forformation of kinks in the attenuated fibers or filaments issubstantially reduced or eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a 3,207,587 PatentedSept. 21, 1965 "ice means associated with a double blower constructionar ranged whereby pairs of blasts from the blower attenuate multiplerows or groups of streams of mineral material to fibers whereby thegases of the blasts are caused to travel in more nearly parallel pathsat the attenuating zones whereby attenuation efficiency is improved.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a doubleblower construction from which multiple blasts emanate for attenuatingmultiple groups of streams of fiber-forming mineral material to fibersin combination with baffle or separator means disposed between pairs ofgaseous blasts arranged to prevent or substantially reduceinterimpingement or interference of the gases of adjacent blasts wherebyto influence or direct the gases of the blasts to move in rectilinearpaths throughout the attenuating regions of the blasts.

Another object of the invention resides in a double blower constructionprovided with a bafile or separator at the central section of the blowerwhereby the gases of adjacent fiber-attenuating blasts are preventedfrom interengagement throughout the length of the attenuating zones ofthe blasts with a consequent elimination or substantial reduction ofturbulance occurring or existing at the attenuating zones.

Another object resides in the provision of a transversely arrangedbaffle means associated with a multiple blast blower construction forreducing the tendency of the gases of the blasts to pile-up at thecentral regions of the blasts by reason of the effect of the blastinduced air streams existent at the end regions of the blowerconstruction whereby more efiicient attenuation is attained.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may bepreferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a fiber-forming and fiber collectingapparatus embodying a double blower construction and baflie or separatorarrangement for carrying out the method of the invention:

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of a form of double blower constructionillustrating the separator or bafile means at the central region of theblower construction, and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating a transverselyarranged bafile or separator means associated with a multiple blastblower.

The method and apparatus of the invention are especially adaptable foruse in the attenuation of multiple rows of streams of heat-softenedmaterial such as glass to fine fibers through the employment of highvelocity gaseous blasts, but it is to be understood that the inventionmay be utilized for controlling multiple blasts wherever the same may befound to have utility.

The forms of apparatus disclosed herein for carrying out the method arearranged to direct attenuating blasts at opposite sides of multiple rowsor groups of streams of fiber-forming materials in a manner whereby theinnermost blasts between rows or groups of streams of material areengaged with the streams in advance of the region of engagement ofattenuating blasts at the outer sides of rows or groups of streams ofmaterial in combination with influencing the paths of traverse of gasesof pairs of blasts to prevent engagement of the gases of one pair withthe gases of another pair of blasts throughout the attenuating range ofthe blasts.

Referring to the arrangement disclosed in FIGURES 1 3 through 3 of thedrawings, there is illustrated a means such as a forehearth orreceptacle adapted to contain a supply of heat-softened fiber-formingmaterial such as glass, the glass being.in molten of flowable condition.The forehearth may be connected with a melting furnace (not shown) inwhich the glass batch or other mineral material is reduced to a moltenor flowable state and flowed from the furnace to the forehearth 10.

The forehearth or receptacle 10 is fashioned of refractory or othermaterial capable of withstanding high temperatures, and is equipped witha stream feeder or bushing 12. The stream feeder 12 is mounted in thefloor of the forehearth 10 and is preferably made of an alloy ofplatinum and rhodium. The feeder 12 is preferably of elongatedrectangular shape, the end walls of which may be provided with lugs 14for connection with conductors of an electric circuit for flowingcontrolled current through the feeder 12 to maintain the glass in thefeeder at the proper temperature and viscosity.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURE 2, the bottom region of the streamfeeder 12 is formed with lengthwise arranged trough-like configurations16 and 17 each configuration 16 and 17 being provided with a row of tipsor projections 19 and 20 provided with orifices or passages throughwhich rows or groups of streams 22 and 24 flow downwardly from thefeeder in parallel relation.

A screen 26 is preferably provided extending across the interior of thefeeder. 12 for preventing particles of refractory or fragments ofunrefined glass from flowing into the feeder to prevent obstruction ofthe passages in the projections 19 and 20.

Disposed beneath the feeder 12 is a blower construction 28 formed withelongated passages or slots 30 and 32 extending lengthwise of the blowerthrough which the rows of streams flow from the feeder. Arranged beneaththe feeder 12 is a fiber-forming hood or enclosure 34 providing aforming chamber into which the fibers formed by blast attenuation aredelivered by the blasts. Arranged at the lower end of the fiber-forminghood is a fiber collecting means such as an endless belt-type conveyor36 of foraminous or reticulated character, the upper flight 38 thereofbeing arranged to move across the end of the chamber 35.

The blast attenuated fibers 40 are collected in a com- 'paratively thinlayer upon the advancing upper flight 38 for further processing.

Applicators 44 such as spray nozzles are arranged or adapted to spray ordeliver a binder, adhesive or other fiber-coating material onto thefibers as they move through the fiber-forming chamber 35. A receptacle46 is disposed beneath the upper flight 38 of the foraminous conveyorthe receptacle providing a suction chamber 48 in registration with theforming chamber 35.

A pipe 50 joined with the chamber 48 is adapted to be connected with asuction blower or other source of reduced pressure to maintain reducedpressure in chamber 48 to facilitate collection of the fibers upon theconveyor flight 38 and to convey away the spent gases of the attenuatingblasts. The blower construction is particularly illustrated in FIGURES 2and 3 and is especially adapted for directingpairs of high velocitysteam blasts into engagement with the glass streams 22 and 24 forattenuating the glass to fibers, but it is to be understood thatcompressed air or other gas under pressure may be utilized if desired.

The blower construction 28 is inclusive of a manifold or gas distributorblock 52 formed with a threaded extension 54 for connection with a pipeor conduit (not shown) arranged to convey steam or other gas underpressure to the blower. In the embodiment illustrated, the manifold 52extends transversely from the blower construction and providesdistribution chamber 56. Secured to the manifold 52 and disposed abovethe same are longitudinally-,-

extending substantially-parallel members or plates 58 arrangedrespectively at the outer sides of the rows of streams 22 and 24, eachof the plates 58 being formed with lengthwise arranged upwardlyextending portions 59 and 60.

A cover plate or blower cap 62 is provided for each of the plates 58secured thereto by screws 63. The regions defined by each pair ofupwardly extending portions 59 and 60 with the cover plates 62 providechambers or manifolds 64 which receive steam or other gas from the mainmanifold 56 through passages or ports 65.

The members or plates 58 and the cover plates 62 are secured to themanifold block 52by screws 68. As shown in FIGURE 2, the blower sectionsor assemblies provided by the plates 58 and 62 are disposed at therespective outer sides of the glass streams 2 and 24.

Disposed between these assemblies is a central blower section comprisinga body member 72 extending in parallelism with the plates 62 and formedwith upwardly extending walls 74 defining a chamber 76. Disposed aboveand extending lengthwise of the member 72is a blower cap or cover platesecured to member 72 by screws 82, the cap 80 defining an upper wall ofthe chamber 76. The member 72 and the blower cap 80 are secured to themanifold 52 by screws 78.

The central chamber 76 receives steam or other gas under pressure fromthe manifold chamber 56 through a passage or port 79. As particularlyshown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, the member 80 extends substantially abovethe upper planar surfaces of the cover plates or blower caps 62 of theouter blower sections. The cover plates or blower caps 62 and theportions 60 are spaced from the respective side walls 74 of the centralsection providing the passages or blower slots 30 and 32 through whichthe glass streams flow from the feeder 12.

The regions of the caps 62 adjacent the slots 30 and 32 are formed withdepending skirt portions 86 spaced transversely from the portions 60 ofmembers 58 providing passages 8 through which the steam in the chambers64 is projected at high velocities in the general direction of thestreams at the outer sides of the rows of glass streams and intoengagement with the streams. The blower cap 80 of the central blowersection is formed with depending skirt portions 90 spaced from the upperportions of the walls 74 to form passages or slots 92 through whichsteam from the chamber 76 is projected at high velocities in a downwarddirection through the slots 30 and 32 into engagement with the glassstreams.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the blower cap 80 of the central section of theblower construction extends upwardly a substantial distance andterminates in a horizontal plane approximately at the terminus of theorificed projections 19 and 20 through which the streams of glass flowfrom the feeder.

For theaverage size blower, it is found that the upper surface of theblower cap 80 is preferably disposed about thirteen thirty-seconds of aninch or more above the plane of the upper surfaces of blower caps 62.This dimension may be modified for use with glass compositions centralregion of each of the slots.

The member 72 atthe.

Disposed between the member 72 and each pair of plates 59 and 62 aremembers or blocks 100. A pair of blocks 100 is arranged at each end ofthe blower assembly, the blocks of one pair being secured to themanifold member 52 and the blocks of the other pair secured to thetransversely extending bar 96. The inner surfaces of the blocks 100define the ends of the stream receiving passages 30 and 32.

It will be noted in FIGURE 2 that the surfaces of the blower skirts 86and the adjacent surfaces of the portions 60 of plates 58 defining theblower passages or slots 88 are arranged at an angle with respect to thevertical flow path of the streams from the feeder such angularity beingbetween about ten and fourteen degrees to direct or converge the gasesof the blasts into engagement with the streams of glass.

The inner surfaces of the blower skirts 90 of the central cap member 80and the adjacent surfaces of walls 74 of member 72 are likewiseangularly arranged with respect to the vertical flow path of thestreams, the angularity being between approximately ten and fourteendegrees to converge the blasts from the center sections into engagementwith the glass streams 22 and 24.

Thus the pair of blasts directed through each of the stream-receivingpassages or slots are in converging relation to assure engagement of thegases of the blasts with the streams for attenuating the streams tofibers.

It has been found that, at a region a short distance beneath the blowerassembly, the blasts engaging the respective rows of or groups of glassstreams tend to converge at a median plane through the central sectionlengthwise of the blower. The gases of the blasts by theirinterimpingement are abruptly deflected outwardly and downwardly fromthe central median plane of the blower assembly. The attenuation of theglass stream to fibers is taking place in this region and as the fibersentrained in the gases of the blasts are still in plastic or deformablecondition, the abrupt deflection of the blasts through theirinterimpingement forms kinks in the fibers under the influence of theoutwardly deflected gases of the blasts.

In the average size blower it is found that the zone of interimpingementof the gases of the blasts occurs from three to five inches below theterminae of the stream receiving slots or passages 30 and 32. The blowerarrangement includes means for preventing interimpingement of the gasesof the blasts throughout the attenuating region or zone. As illustratedin the drawings, a separator, baflle or deflector 104, which may befashioned of sheet metal, is disposed lengthwise of the blower assemblyand in a vertical plane through the median or central region of theblower assembly.

The sheet metal separator or baffie 104 is provided at its upper endregion with a transversely extending flange 106 which accommodatessecuring screws 108 passing through openings in the flange and extendinginto threaded bores formed in the central section 72 of the blower. Itis found that the separator or bafile 104 should preferably depend fromthe blower construction a distance of from four to seven inchesdepending upon the angularity of the blasts and the size of the blowerconstruction.

Through this arrangement the pairs of blasts moving downwardly from theslots or passages 30 and 32 are prevented or restrained frominterimpingement at the attenuating region and the fibers formed by theblasts are rectilinear and devoid of kinks. Furthermore the employmentof the baffle means 104 effects a reduction in turbulence at theattenuating region beneath the blower assembly resulting in improvedefliciency of attenuation and in the production of longer fine fibersfrom the glass streams.

The method of operation of the blower and baflle construction asillustrated in the drawings is as follows: Super heated steam undersubstantial pressure or compressed air is delivered into the manifoldchamber 56 from a supply, the steam or other gas moving through theports 65 and 79 into the outer blower chambers 64 and the chamber 76formed in the central section 72.

The steam in the chamber 76 is projected through the orifices orpassages 92 forming high velocity gaseous blasts directed generallydownwardly in slight converging relation as hereinbefore explained intothe steam-receiving passages or slots 30 and 32 and into engagement withthe rows of streams 22 and 24.

Steam from the chamber 64 is projected through the blower slots ororifices 88 forming high velocity gaseous blasts directed downwardlythrough the passages 30 and 32 and into engagement with the glassstreams of the respective rows. The pairs of gaseous blasts in eachpassage attenuate these streams moving through the respective passagesand draw out or attenuate the streams into fine fibers.

The blower cap being disposed at a higher level or elevated positionthan the upper surfaces of the blower caps 62 reduces or minimizes theblast-induced air streams and provides an eflective control of theblast-induced air moving into the passages 30 and 32 across the uppersurfaces of the outer blower caps 62. The elevated or raised position ofthe blower cap 80 of the central section substantially eliminates aregion of reduced pressure between the rows of streams.

This means of control of direction of potential flow of the induced airis effective in securing a proper balance of the momentums of theinduced air streams.

Furthermore the employment of high velocity gaseous attenuating blastsemanating from blower slots arranged at different levels, as shown inFIGURE 2, provides for a more smooth flow of induced air along the glassstreams and, in conjunction with the baffle means or separator 104,attains substantially vertical rectilinear attenuation of the streamsthroughout the full length of the attenuating region of the blasts.

The induced air stream moving into each slot or passage 30 and 32 isinfluenced by the upper blast from the .orifices or blower slots 90whereby the momentum of the induced air stream moving in a directionacross each of the blower plates 62 toward the blower cap 80 is reducedand to a substantial extent is balanced by the downward forces of theblasts bending the streams of induced air into the glass receivingpassages or slots. This arrangement reduces laterally acting forceswhich would otherwise cause whipping or impinging of the fibers againstthe walls defining the glass stream receiving passages 30 and 32.

As the blasts from the blower slots 88 are delivered at a region belowthe region of delivery of the blasts from the blower slots 92 in thecentral section, the velocity of the outermost blasts influences theinduced air to continue to flow more nearly in a rectilinear direction.However as some of the energy of the blasts from the upper slots 92 hasbeen dissipated before the blasts from the lower blower slots 88 aredelivered into engagement with the inner blasts, the outermost blaststend to divert the gases from the upper blasts toward a central medianregion of the blower construction.

The baffle means or separator 1.04 is effective to deflect or preventimpingement of the gases of the respective pairs of blasts and securemore straight line flow of the gases and hence the formation of kinks inthe fibers is substantially eliminated. Such fibers have higher strengthcharacteristics and where the fibers are formed into a comparativelythin bonded mat, the appearance of the mat is greatly improved by theabsence of kinks in the fibers.

While the feeder or bushing 12 is illustrated as provided with twolengthwise arranged, spaced rows or orificed projections 19, the feeder12 may be fashioned with pairs of groups or rows of stream feedingorifices whereby two or more rows of streams are delivered into each ofthe passages 30 and 32. In such arrangement, each pair of gaseous blastsengages two or more rows or groups of streams and thereby increasing theyield of fibers.

FIGURE 4is illustrative of a blower construction of the characterillustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 em bodying a transversely extendingbaflle means 110 preferably formed of sheet metal secured to the members58' and 72 by screws 112, the baflle means depending from the blowerconstruction. It has been found that where the blower construction is ofsubstantial length, the blastinduced air flowing into the ends of theslots or glass receiving passages 30' and 32' tends to cause a piling upof the gases of the blasts adjacent the central regions lengthwise ofthe attenuating blasts.

Through the provision of the transversely disposed baflle or separator110 the tendency for the induced air streams to influence the gases ofthe blasts to pile-up at the cetnral regions of the blower issubstantially reduced. The bafiie or separator 110, in efiect, dividesthe blower lengthwise into two comparatively short length blowersthereby improving the flow path and attenuating efficiency of the blastsat opposite sides of the transversely arranged bafiie 110 withoutsacrificing production yield of fibers. The baffle means 110 may beemployed in conjunction with the baflie, means 104 or may be usedindependently of the bafile meanas 104 as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Whereboth baflie plates or separator means are utilized with the blower, eachbafile plate may be slotted through one-half of its width to facilitateinterlocking of the plates..

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modificationsand different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed,and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of forming fibers from heat-softened material by blastattenuation including flowing streams of the material in spaced groupsfrom a supply through walled passages, engaging the material of thestreams in each walled passage by a pair of high velocity gaseous blastsdischarging at diflierent levels in the passage, and separating thegases of the pairs of blasts by a surface below the passages and midwaybetween the pairs of blasts extending substantially throughout thelength of the attenuating region to effect substantially rectilinearattenuation of the streams to fibers.

2.The method of forming fibers from heat-softened material by blastattenuation including flowing streams of the material in spaced groupsfrom a supply through walled passages, engaging the material of thestreams in each passage with a first gaseous blast from an orifice inthe inner wall of each passage, engaging the material of the streams ineach passage with a second gaseous blast discharged from an orifice inthe outer wall of each passage at a lower region than the zone ofengagement of the first blasts with the material, obstructing the flowof blast-induced air at the region between the passages, and separatingpairs of blasts by a surface at a median zone below the passagesextending substantially throughout the length of the attenuating regionto prevent interference of gases of the blasts and effect substantiallyrectilinear attenuation of the streams to fibers.

3. The method of forming fibers from heat-softened materials by blastattenuation including flowing streams of the material in spaced groupsfrom a supply through walled passages, engaging the material of thestreams in each passage with a first gaseous blast from an orifice inthe inner wall of each passage, engaging the material of the streams ineach passage with a second gaseous blast discharged from an orifice inthe outer wall of each passage at a lower region than the zone ofengagement of the first blasts with the material, obstructing the flowof blast-induced air at the region between the passages, and, dividingthe attenuating regions below the passages by a surface extendingsubstantially throughout thelength of the attenuating region to preventinterference of gases of the blasts.

4. The method of forming fibers from heat-softened material by blastattenuation including flowing streams of the material in spaced groupsfrom a supply through walled passages, engaging the material of thestreams in each passage with a first gaseous blast from an orifice inthe inner wall of each passage, engaging the material of the streams ineach passage with a second gaseous blast discharged from an orifice inthe outer wall of each passage at a lower region than the zone ofengagement of the first blasts with the material, obstructing the flowof blast-induced air at the region between the passages, and guiding thegases of the pairs of blasts in. parallel rectilinear directions at azone below the passages by a median surface substantially throughout thelength of the attenuating region to effect substantially rectilinearattenuation of the streams to fibers.

5., Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softened materialincluding, in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams ofthe material from a supply, a blower, construction'disposed adjacent thestream feeding means formed with a pair of walled passages wherein eachpassage accommodates a group of streams, the walls of each passage ofthe blower construction being provided with alongated slots at oppositesides of each group of streams through which gases under pressure aredischarged as a pair of high velocity blasts, and a depend.- ing walldisposed beneath the central region of the blower and betweenthe pairsof blasts extending substantially throughout the length of theattenuating region to prevent interference of divergently moving gasesof the blasts at the attenuating region thereof.

6. Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softened material including,in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams of thematerial from a supply, a blower construction disposed adjacent thestream feeding means, said blower construction being. provided withpairs of elongated slots at opposite sides of each group of streamsthrough which gases under pressure are discharged as high velocityblasts, the slots of each pair at different levels, and a baflle memberdepending from the central region of the blower extending substantiallythroughout the length of the attenuating region to separate the gases ofthe pairs of blasts at the attenuating region thereof.

7. Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softened material including,in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams of thematerial from a supply, a blower construction disposed adjacent thestream feeding means, said blower construction being provided with pairsof elongated slots at opposite sides of each group of streams throughwhich gases under pressure are discharged as high velocity blasts, theblower slots arranged between the groups of streams being at a differentlevel than the blower slots at the outer sides of the groups of streamswhereby the blasts of each pair engage the adjacent group of streams atzones spaced lengthwise of the streams to attenuate the streams tofibers, and a vertically disposed baflle plate extending downwardly fromthe central region of the blower substantially throughout the length ofthe attenuating region to prevent interference of the gases of the pairsof blasts at the attenuating region thereof.

8. Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softened material including,in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams of thematerial from a supply, a blower construction disposed adjacent andbeneath the stream feeding means, said blower construction beingprovided with spaced passages to receive respectively the spaced groupsof streams of material, said blower be-- ing formed with a chamberbetween the groups of streams and chambers at the outer sides of thegroups of streams,

munication with the chambers through which gas is discharged as pairs ofgaseous blasts into each passage and into engagement with the groups ofstreams to attenuate the material of the streams to fibers, and avertically arranged bafile plate of planar shape disposed beneath theblower construction between the pairs of blasts and extending downwardlya distance of from four to seven inches for controlling the flow pathsof gases of the blasts.

9. Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softened material including,in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams of thematerial from a supply, a blower construction disposed adjacent andbeneath the stream feeding means, said blower construction beingprovided with spaced passages to receive respectively the spaced groupsof streams of material, said blower being formed with a chamber betweenthe groups of streams and chambers at the outer sides of the groups ofstreams adapted to contain gas under pressure, the walls defining thepassages being provided with orifices in communication with the chambersthrough which gas is discharged as pairs of gaseous blasts into eachpassage and into engagement with the groups of streams to attenuate thematerial of the streams to fibers, the orifices in the walls of thechamber between the groups of streams through which gaseous blasts areprojected being above the orifices in the walls of the chambers at theouter sides of the groups of streams through which gaseous blasts areprojected whereby the pairs of gaseous blasts engage the streams atvertically spaced zones, and a vertically arranged separator platedisposed beneath the blower construction and extending substantiallythroughout the length of the attenuating region for controlling the flowpaths of the gases of the pairs of blasts at the attenuating range ofthe blasts.

10. Apparauts for producing fibers from heat-softened materialincluding, in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams ofthe material from a supply, a blower construction disposed adjacent andbeneath the stream feeding means, said blower construction beingprovided with spaced passages to receive respectively the spaced groupsof streams of material, said blower being formed with orifice meansarranged to direct multiple gaseous blasts at diiferent levels into eachpassage and 10 into engagement with the groups of streams to attenuatethe material of the streams to fibers, and a vertically arranged plateextending downwardly from the blower construction at a median regionbetween the passages substantially throughout the length of theattenuating region to divide the gases of the blasts.

11. Apparatus for producing fibers from heat-softened materialincluding, in combination, means for feeding spaced groups of streams ofthe material from a supply, a blower construction disposed adjacent andbeneath the stream feeding means, said blower construction beingprovided with spaced passages to receive respectively the spaced groupsof streams of material, said blower being formed with a chamber betweenthe groups of streams and chambers at the outer sides of the groups ofstreams adapted to contain gas under pressure, the walls defining eachof the passages being provided with orifices arranged at differentlevels in communication with the chambers through which gas isdischarged as pairs of gaseous blasts into each passage and intoengagement with the groups of streams to attenuate the material of thestreams to fibers, a vertically arranged plate disposed beneath anddepending from the blower construction and extending lengthwise thereofsubstantially full length of the attenuating region to preventimpingement of divergently moving gases of one pair of blasts withdivergently moving gases of the other pair of blasts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,206,060 7/40Slayter 5 2,224,466 12/40 Baker et al. 65-16 2,635,285 4/53 Toulmin 65-72,653,416 9/53 Slayter 65--9 2,774,630 12/56 Henry et al. 2394332,927,621 3/60 Slayter et al. 659 3,021,558 2/62 Roberson 655 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,154,476 4/58 France.

DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner. MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner.

2. THE METHOD OF FORMING FIBERS FROM HEAT-SOFTENED MATERIAL BY BLASTATTENUATION INCLUDING FLOWING STREAMS OF THE MATERIAL IN SPACED GROUPSFROM A SUPPLY THROUGH WALLED PASSAGES, ENGAGING THE MATERIAL OF THESTREAMS IN EACH PASSAGE WITH A FIRST GASEOUS BLAST FROM AN ORIFICE INTHE INNER WALL OF EACH PASSAGE, ENGAGING THE MATERIAL OF THE STREAMS INEACH PASSAGE WITH A SECOND GASEOUS BLAST DISCHARGED FROM AN ORIFICE INTHE OUTER WALL OF EACH PASSAGE AT A LOWER REGION THAN THE ZONE OFENGAGEMENT OF THE FIRST BLASTS WITH THE MATERIAL, OBSTRUCTING THE FLOWOF HEAT-INDUCED AIR AT THE REGION BETWEEN THE PASSAGES, AND SEPARATINGPAIRS OF BLASTS BY A SURFACE AT A MEDIAN ZONE BELOW THE PASSAGESEXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE ATTENUATING REGIONTO PREVENT INTERFERENCE OF GASES OF THE BLASTS AND EFFECT SUBSTANTIALLYRECTILINEAR ATTENUATION OF THE STREAMS TO FIBERS.
 5. APPARATUS FORPRODUCING FIBERS FROM HEAT-SOFTENED MATERIAL INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION,MEANS FOR FEEDING SPACED GROUPS OF STREAMS OF THE MATERIAL FROM ASUPPLY, A BLOWER, CONSTRUCTION DISPOSED ADJACENT THE STREAM FEEDINGMEANS FORMED WITH A PAIR OF WALLED PASSAGES WHEREIN EACH PASSAGEACCOMMODATES A GROUP OF STREAMS, THE WALLS OF EACH PASSAGE OF THE BLOWERCONSTRUCTION BEING PROVIDED WITH ALONGATED SLOTS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OFEACH GROUP OF STREAM THROUGH WHICH GASES UNDER PRESSURE ARE DISCHARGEDAS A PAIR OF HIGH VELOCITY BLASTS, AND A DEPENDING WALL DISPOSED BENEATHTHE CENTRAL REGION OF THE BLOWER AND BETWEEN THE PAIRS OF BLASTSEXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE ATTENUATING REGIONTO PREVENT INTERFERENCE OF DIVERGENTLY MOVING GASES OF THE BLASTS AT THEATTENUATING REGION THEREOF.